Dynamic Ecosystems Part 2: Energy Flow

Food Chains energy Food chains show “who eats who” in an ecosystem. They show the transfer of __________ from one organism to another. energy

Food Chains grass mouse mouse owl The arrow () means “is eaten by” and shows the direction that energy flows. The ________ is eaten by the _________. The ___________ is eaten by the _______. The _______ is eaten by the _____. grass grasshopper grasshopper mouse mouse owl

Food Chains up trophic level Each step in a food chain is known as a ______________. Energy moves ______ the trophic levels. trophic level up

Feed directly on plants Trophic Level Definition Examples Producers Plants are producers. They produce energy for the ecosystem through photosynthesis   Primary consumers (herbivores) Feed directly on plants Secondary consumers Feed on primary consumers Tertiary consumers Feed on secondary consumers

Herbivores eat only plants

Carnivores eat mainly meat Omnivores eat both plants and meat

Decomposers Eat decaying matter (like dead plants and animals). They help put nutrients back into the soil for plants to use.

ex. vultures, hyenas, seagulls, ravens Scavengers carnivores that feed on dead animals ex. vultures, hyenas, seagulls, ravens

Top carnivore ________________–term given to a consumer that is not eaten by anything in the food chain. Often considered the “top of the food chain”.

What is the food chain here? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bW7PlTaawfQ What is the food chain here? Producer? Primary Consumer? Secondary Consumer?

Food Webs __________ show all possible paths for _______ to flow in an _______________. They are made up of lots of food _________. food webs energy ecosystem food webs

Food Webs The  still shows the direction of energy flow. An organism can occupy more than one trophic level

Which one is more stable?

Place these food chains into a food web… CarrotRabbitFox GrassRabbitFox GrassGrasshopperOwl GrassGrasshopperBirdFox GrainsMiceOwl GrainsBirdsFox GrainsGrasshopperBirdOwl

Draw the food web… GrassDeerHuman GrassCowHuman GrassGrasshopperCoyote GrassGrasshopperSnake Hawk GrassGrasshopperHawk GrassMouseHawk GrassMouseSnakeHawk GrassMouseCoyote